Friday, April 29, 2016

I get asked to make a tray of appetizers often. I love serving these up to fans of the sandwich, and for a hostess that simply wants something tasty (one of the most popular sandwiches), yet just a little something something.

I have made these several times, each time the plate comes back empty. People love these!

There is a slight down size, normally pinwheel sandwiches are inexpensive to make. These are about the most expensive pinwheels I make because of the cost of the corned beef. I tried these with a lower quality (cheaper) corned beef... MUCH lower taste. So, it's off to the deli counter. Ask for the thinnest possible cut and make a couple of layers for that seasoned pickled beef taste that you want.

The recipe will make about 60 bites (depends on how thick you slice them). Ingredient costs are about $15, making them about a quarter each.

But worth it...Guaranteed empty plate coming back!

OK... Here's what I did...

Reuben Sandwich Pinwheels

Ingredients

5 Tortilla(Soft, Flour)

1 BricKCream Cheese, softened to room temperature

1 CupShredded Swiss Cheese

1/4 CupRussian Dressing (can use 1,000 Island or French)

15 Thin SlicedCorned Beef Lunch Meat Slices

1/4 CupSauerkraut. Drained and squeezed dry

Cooking Directions

In the bowl of a stand mixer, Add the softened Cream Cheese, Shredded Swiss Cheese and the Russian Dressing. Using the whisk attachment, Whisk until creamy and spreadable.

Lay out the soft flour Tortillas. Spread 1/5th of the Cream Cheese mix on each tortilla. Spread to evenly coat each tortilla.

Evenly top each with slices of the corned beef (except for the top 1/2 inch (the Cream Cheese mix will help Seal the pinwheels)

Evenly top with 1/5th of the Sauerkraut.(except for the top 1/2 inch (the Cream Cheese mix will help Seal the pinwheels).

Lightly roll up the Tortillas. Not too tightly, do not roll up so tight that the filling pushes forward. Once you reach the top (The part with just Cream Cheese mix). press to seal the top edges, forming a log. Repeat with remaining Tortillas

Refrigerate the "Logs" for 1 hour.

Slice each log into 1/2 inch Pinwheel Sandwiches, discard (or cooks delight, eat) the end pieces that do not sit flat. Repeat with remaining logs.

A Fantastic Appetizer. The Reuben is a very popular sandwich. This is that sandwich in a handheld appetizer form. All the flavors, simple, to make, attractive to serve and popular!

A win win win!

One of my "52 Appetizer Recipes" Collection (Plenty more than 52 actually, A great place to find ideas!

And PERFECT for any big gathering... Potluck, Neighborhood Pass a Plate event, Something to bring, BIG Family event (Impress that Sister-in-Law) and you will really shine when you take a plate of these to that Church PotLuck dinner. Guaranteed you will bring home an empty plate!

Monday, April 4, 2016

It has so many advantages... Inexpensive Macaroni Pasta helps to stretch your dollars. I used the always easy, always tasty, always perfectly cooked Rotisserie Chickens for the meat. One of those you can buy pre-cooked at most grocery stores (and big box warehouse joints)... Often for a lower cost than the uncooked versions.

I loaded it up with frozen vegetables (Peas and Corn), Added some fresh Veggies (Onions and Sweet Bell Peppers). And then added spices through the use of canned Chunky Ro-Tel Tomatoes. Just enough to give the dish a little ZING!

Top with a little Taco Seasoned Cheese and you have a diet - healthy dish that looks fantastic, costs can be as low as $10 for 8 servings (watch those sales, I always stock up on Ro-Tel, Frozen Vegetables, basic Pasta and cheese when I see them on sale, almost making this a pantry meal).

Of course this is only a winner if it has the right taste. This is a Tex-Mex type dish. The Ro-Tel Tomatoes have Green Chilies mixed in to add a spice (diet food does not need to taste diet). Add additional seasonings to taste (I always add Cumin anytime I cook with Tomatoes) and you have a filling dish with lots of flavors that your family will love!

And of course it makes a beautiful dish to take along to any big PotLuck style meal, as a take along dish for a family gathering. Bright, colorful and tasty combination!

Enjoy indeed

OK... Here's what I did...

Chicken and Veggie Pasta Casserole

Ingredients

2 TBSOlive Oil

1 Medium SizeOnion, Large Dice

1 Medium SizeGreen Bell Pepper

2 to 3 CupsCooked Chicken, diced (I used the emat from 1/2 a Rotisserie Chicken, can substitute 2 Chicken breasts (cooked and diced).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a large 9X13 Casserole dish with non-stick spray. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Be sure to under cook the pasta slightly. It will finish cooking as the casserole cooks.

Heat the Olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the diced Onion and Bell pepper and saute for about 5 minutes until peppers are soft and the onions are translucent.

Add the cooked Chicken and Garlic to the pan and saute for another minute.

Add the Ro-Tel tomatoes and the can of Soup. Season with the Cumin and optional Chili Powder.. Stir to evenly mix.

Run the corn and peas under HOT water for a few minutes to thaw. Add Corn and Peas to the pan and mix well.

Dump the cooked pasta into the casserole dish. Add the contents of the Pan, covering the pasta evenly. Spread the cheese over the top.

Bake COVERED with aluminum foil for about 45 minutes until the sauce is bubbly. UNCOVER and bake an additional 15 minutes, allowing the cheese to get golden brown and delicious.

A list of something NEW worthy of being shown off at a neighborhood BYODish (Bring Your Own Dish) Party, a Family special occasion dinner, Any Big Holiday Gathering or of course that glorious day when you bring a dish to share with your Church family...

Ages ago, literally almost a half century ago I was listening to our pastor talking about a PotLuck Dinner. It happened to be scheduled around a church work day when we were expected to weed, polish and do general cleaning and maintenance around the church (you know, back in the day when there were no no-wax floors and church pews smelled of Old English furniture polish). I am of course paraphrasing, but as I recall the pastor said,

"A potluck, like a church requires work. At a potluck everyone is expected to contribute.. At a church no one should come empty handed and no one should leave unfed".

I will confess that in my youth I brought more store bought plastic spoons and forks than I ever brought covered dishes and crock pots of fresh made love and caring delights. But now that I have become a hobbyist cook, I occasionally am reminded of those days and people from my youth. I reminded and I do wish that I could drop a dish of some new creation on those old tables at my fondly remembered Liberty Baptist Church. Tables covered with newspapers and loaded with God's bounty prepared with love and caring... Enjoy

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Cul de Sac Cuisine. Making the most of local, fresh and best the suburbs have to offer. Just a little healthy eating, but always instructional and inviting. The suburban Cul de Sac is where it's at, and my back yard is the place to be!